Selecting Your Paint

A Guide to Selecting Natural Paint

Are
you new to natural paint? Unlike conventional petrochemical paints, which generally come in a one-type-fits-all can, natural paints should be
selected with your application in mind. Take a few minutes to learn
about the differences between our natural paints and plasters, and you will find
that our Zero-VOC, green natural paints and plasters can be used to achieve terrific results in a wide
variety of applications.

We
do not currently offer a paint that we recommend for the exterior. We
are in the fifth year of testing a natural paint for the exterior and
hope to release it soon- so check back.

Is the room you are painting going to be regularly humid?

Unlike
conventional paints, Unearthed natural paints do not contain any
chemical biocides. Our paints are breathable, so occasional moisture or
water splashes will dry out without a problem (exception: Plant Glue Paint is not water resistant).

If
you are applying paint to a room that is consistently humid (such as
bathrooms, small, enclosed kitchens or rooms in humid climates) our Lime
Paint or Lime Plaster are excellent choices. Unearthed Lime Paint and
Lime Plaster have a natural pH value of approximately 13. Because of
this high alkalinity, they are extremely resistant to fungus and mold
growth.

Are the walls going to get dirty regularly or are they in a low-traffic area that will stay clean?

Although
paint performance descriptions often focus on scrubbability, the reality is that
most people never scrub their walls. Ask yourself: how likely is it
that these walls will need scrubbing?

If
you are using the paint in a low traffic area that will not get wet or
require scrubbing, Unearthed Plant Glue Paint is a very economical
choice. However, it is not water-resistant. Plant Glue Paint is also a great natural paint to use on your ceilings.

If
you require a very durable, dirt and water resistant surface, we
recommend that you use Lime Paint or Lime Plasters. After applying the
lime plaster or paint you can add our Marseille soap. This creates a
soaped lime coating that is very resistant to dirt and water.

Are you painting over a nonporous surface, such as very glossy conventional paint or glazed tile?

All
of our natural paints can be successfully applied to most surfaces,
including conventional paints. Because thousands of chemical paint
formulas have been on the market, it is impossible for us to guarantee
adhesion on all surfaces. We recommend that you do a test surface on an
inconspicuous location before painting the whole room. Keep in mind
that unlike conventional paints, Unearthed natural paints continue to harden
over time, so a newly painted surface will become much more durable over
the months following application.

Do
you want the most unique, eye-catching finish available, or would you
rather use something that is easiest to apply and most economical?

Lime
plasters create stunning finishes that can be customized by mixing in
ingredients like walnut shells and glass pearls. However, plastering is
significantly more work than painting and the per square foot price is
higher. Lime plasters must be troweled. With some practice (try a
sample board first!), most people can learn to apply plaster themselves.

Unearthed
paints are easy to apply. Clay, Vega, and Plant Glue Paints can be
applied with a brush, roller, or airless sprayer. Clay Roll-On Plaster can be applied with a brush or a roller. Lime Paint
should be applied with a brush, unless it is untinted, in which case it
can also be rolled on.

Try our Clay Roll-On Plaster for a textured finish that is easy to apply.

Vibrant
shades (A) are created by using full-strength colors. To achieve these
shades, simply buy a gallon of your desired color.

Medium
shades (B) are created by mixing full-strength colors and white in a
ratio of 3:10. To make a B shade, buy three 1/10th gallon packets
of color and one gallon of white. This will make 1.3 gallons of paint.

Subtle
shades (C) are achieved by mixing full-strength colors and white in a
ratio of 1:10. To make a gallon of a C shade, buy one 1/10th gallon
packet of color and one gallon of white. This will make 1.1 gallons of
paint.

Vega Paint, Lime Paint, Plant Glue Paint, Lime Plasters

Click here for the Color Chart. All
of these paints are sold as a white base. We will send you the
appropriate size pigment packet based on the color you select. You
simple mix the pigment packet into the gallon of paint. You can also create your own unique colors by mixing the pigments. Pigments can be bought individually from our pigment page.

Still have questions? Send us your questions by clicking the "contact" button on the left of this page.